Combination-lock



se.. M.

S. PERRY, OF NEVIORT, NEW YORK.

COMBINATION-LOCK.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 20,658, dated June 22, 1858.

To all whom it' may concern:

Be it known that I, STUART PERRY, of Newport, in the county of Herkimer and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Combination-Locks; and l hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description 0f the construction and operation of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1, represents a perspective view of said lock, the cover being removed therefrom. Fig. 2, represents a perspective view of the working parts in the respective positions when the lock is locked. Fig. 3, represents a vertical cross section through the lock. Fig. 4 represents a perspective view of the key of said lock, the case of the same being represented as partly broken away. Fig. represents a top view of said key. Fig. 6 represents one of the key bits. Figs. 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 and 17 represent detached views o-f the diierent parts of which this lock is composed, and which will be described more fully hereafter.

The nature of my invention relates to that class of combination locks which have no key hole, and consists firstly in the peculiar construction of the key and of the corresponding parts of the lock by means of which said key can be applied directly to the lock, and the lock operated therewith without referring to any index, signs, or figures, as has been the case heretofore in locks of this description.

It further consists in the use of two working shafts, one within the other, one of which has a rotating movement in which every point describes a circle, while the other has a rectilinear movement only, both produced by the use of the key making movements resulting from the action of the key bits, while the separate movements of these shafts when moved by hand, and without the application of the key, result for each given point respectively in a circle and straight line, thereby giving no clue of the extent of the movements of the sliding tumblers.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention I will proceed to describe its construction and operation.

A, represents the case of the lock, B, the bolt of the same, which is shown in a detached view in Fig. 14; the bolt is guided in its rectilinear motions by the projections C, on the bottom of the lock case. D, in Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 12, represents a hollow shaft resting with its bearing within the seat a.

E represents a round solid steel shaft, which fits loosely within the shaft D, and can be moved up and down within the samef the bit F, of the shaft E, extends through a slot o, of the shaft D, as represented in Figs. 8 and 12.

G, is a circular plate extending from the lower part of the hollow shaft D, as represented in Fig. 12; to this plate is securedl the pin o, which when the lock is put together, drops within the recess H, of the bolt B, and thus by turning the shaft D, the bolt B is moved in and out.

I, is a block which is firmly secured to the bottom of the lock by means of the screws d; the shape of this block is more particularly represented in Figs. 7, and 8, Fig. 7, being a perspective view of said block from its upper, and Fig. S, a perspective view of the same fro-m its bott-om side; the brackets K, of the block I, serve to support the sliding tumblers y, y, g2, 1/3, yt.

L, represents a cam ring, the inner circumference of which is a circle, and which can play freely on its seat on the lower side of the block l; to the lower face of this cam is secured a small block g, which when the parts are put together and the lock is operated, comes in contact with the abutments 7, and f of the plate Gr, for a purpose to be hereafter described.

N, represents a sliding carriage, the shape of which is represented in Fig. 9; this carriage is supported and guided by suitable bearings in the lock case, and is actuated at the proper moment by the cam L, which plays within the hollow part of said carriage; the carriage N, also supports between the brackets 7L and 7c, the second set of sliding tumblers x, x, x2, m3, x4.

To the top of the -block I, is fitted a cap O, represented in Figs. 1 and 3, on which the key is placed when the lock is to be operated. The key of this lock is represented in Fig. 4; it consists of a cylindrical case Am, into which are placed a number of rings of the shape represented in Fig. 6.

The number of rings in the key is equal to the number of the sliding tumblers in each of the above mentioned tumbler sets; when these rings are set in their case, th-ey are held in their proper positions by the tongue 12., of the case entering a groove 0, on the circumference of the rings. Each ring is formed on its inner face with a circular key bit, j?, into which notches are cut at different places as represented at Fig. 4t and the different combinations of the key and lock are obtained by the different positions of the notches; the notches (I, of the rings are all in one line allowing the part F of the working shaft, which operates the sliding tumblers, to ascend and descend in a straight line through the notches g, while the notches r, form the combination of the key as represented in Fig. 4.

s is a small cylinder represented in Figs. 1, 3, and 5, which plays loosely within the key having its bearings on the lower flanch of the key case; this ring or cylinder has a notch cut in its circumference which corresponds in shape with the notches q. The key is closed at its top by-means of a cover t, which confines the key rings within their case.

P, represents a metal cap which can be set on and secured to the steel shaft E, by means of a pin u, in the manner represented in Fig. 3; to this cap P, is secured at its lower edge a steel tongue fv, which fits eX- actly within the above described notches 7, and r, of the key bits.

Figs. 15, 16, and 17, represent the sliding tumblers of this lock; those marked t and 6 are the tumblers (y) which are supported by the brackets K, of the block 1, which those marked 3 and 5, are the tumblers (fr), working between the brackets 7L, and 7c, of the carriage N. The tumblers of each system are of the same shape, and only the lowest tumblers corresponding to mt and ?/4 are different from the others and of the shape represented in Fig. 17, for reasons hereafter to be stated. The different sliding tumblers are separated from each other by intermediate brass plates 1, and 2, in Fig. 13, the plates 1, lying between the tumblers y, and the plates 2, between those of Q, Fig. 11, represents a sliding bar having two pins T extending downward near its ends; this bar I call the slide restorer, and it plays in suitable bearing over the tumblers y; its object is to restore said tumblers to a uniform position after certain movements have been effected in the lock; the restorer Q., is operated by means of cam R, on shaft D, operating upon the stud S, of said re` storer. y

U, is a knife which is secured to the lock case by means of a screw @0,which enters into the notch V, of the carriage 1T, and into cor` responding notches c, of the slides a2 when the bolt B, is locked out.

The sliding tumblers and restorer Q, are

confined within their ways by means of the tiesy, which are screwed to the brackets of the block 1, and carriage N.

The operation of this lock is as follows rlhe shafts D, and E, being in the position represented in Figs. 2, and 12, the key, (Fig. 4L) is placed upon the cap O, in such a manner that the pins 7, on said cap will enter corresponding holes in the bottom flange of the key; in this position, the tongue c, is in the line of the notches q of the key, and the bit F, of the shaft E, is in its lowest position and right under thenotch 8, Fig. 7, of the block 1; by taking hold now of the handle 1V, and pulling cap P, upward, the shaft E, will beA raised and the bit F will rise through notch 8, to the position represented in Fig. 3. By now turning the handle 11R-from the left to the right, the bit F is supported in its movement by the flanch 9, Fig. 7, and as the shaft D, is caused to turn with the shaft E, by reason of the bit F, passing through the slot the pin c, by this partial revolution actuates the bolt B, by working in notch H, shooting out the bolt as represented in Fig. l. When the bolt is shotout to its full extent, the bit F, just commences to enter the notches 10 of the slides y. In this position the bit F, is just opposite the slides y, and the height of said bit being equal to the conbined thickncsses of the slides y, and their intermediate pieces 2, it follows that if the bit F, should be retained in its eXact height, and be turned farther to the right it would operate simultaneously on all the slides y, and move them to the right also. During the turning of the shafts E, and D, the tongue o, has been progressing on the uppermost key bit until it finds the first notch r, through which said tongue descends, until it strikes the second key bit. Through this movement, the bit F, descends the thickness of one key ring, which is just equal to the slide 1/ and its corresponding piece 2, thus disengaging said slide at the point where the tongue o, slipped down through the notch r, of the first key bit y). By now turning J[he handle YV, slightly to the left the tongue o, will descend through the notch in the second key ring 79, thereby setting and releasing the slide y, then turning again to the right set and release slide y2, and so on until the tongue c, has passed successively through. the notches r, of each key ring thereby arranging the slides 1/ to a position which corresponds to the positions of the notches r, in the key bits. During these movements of the sliding tumblers, the slides af, and y, were in positions represented in Fig. 15, the tongues of the slides y, reaching within corresponding recesses of the slides fr, and consequently the two sets of slides moved together and the slides .fr were arranged in exactly similar position with the slides y. The slides and y can be moved toget-her when arranged as represented in Fig. 15-that is, when the tongues of the slides 1 reach within the recess of the slides but as soon as the two sets of slides are separated, as represented in Figs. 16 and 17, then they can be moved separately. When the movements of these slides have been effected, the tongue fu, has passed through the entire height of the key, and the shaft E, is again in its lowest position. By now turning the handle again to the right, the bit F, will move below the flange 9, Fig. 7 and the abutment f will bear against the block g, Figs. 7 and 8, thereby operating the cam L; this cam will be turned, and will push the carriage N, to the position represented in Fig. 2, the face of the cam acting against the side L of the carriage N. By this movement of the carriage N, the slides fr, and y are separated and come to the position represented in Figs. 16 and 17, While at the same timel the knife U, passes into notch V, and into one of the notches a of the slides thereby holding said slides in the position in which they have been arranged, the distance of the notches n from each other being proportioned to the positions of the notches r, in the different key bits. The two sets of slides being thus separated, the further movement of the shaft D, causes the cam B, to act upon the stud S, of the restorer Q, which restores the slides y, to an even and uniform position thereby destroying all traces of the movement above described; the carriage in the last position prevents the bolt B from being pushed back for as seen in Fig. 1, the rib A of the bolt can enter the groove B on the under side of the carriage N, but when the carriage is moved outward, as represented in Fig. 2, the position of the rib A and groove B do not correspond any longer, and the bolt is effectually locked out.

To unlock the lock, the shaft E, is pulled out as above described, and by working the tongue fv, through the various key bits in the manner above described, but in a reverse direction, that is-from the right to the left, the slides y will be exactly arranged as they -have been before they were restored by the restorer Q, and by turning the shaft D, farther to the left the cam L, will drive the carriage N, back to its former position, the slides x and y will enter each other, and the bolt B, is unlocked by the further motion of the shaft D, to the left. It will be evident from the above description that when the handle or pin W, is withdrawn from shaft P, the key can be placed upon the hub O, in its proper position without the use of any light or without referring to any numbers, index or marks. Further, that for the same lock any combination of the bits Will operate the lock, as the combination rests entirely with the key and not with the sliding tumblers, but that when the lock is locked, it can only be unlocked with the combination with which it was locked. Further that any marking substance fastened to the fixed bearing of the hub 0i, can only make a circular line which returns in itself not giving any tracings-of the extent and time of the movements of the slides, while any attempt to mark the shaft E, results in a straight line, which neither gives any clue for unlocking the lock as the shaft D, can not be moved in a longitudinal direction while shaft E, can `only be moved longitudinally within shaft D.

Locks which are constructed With one single shaft, have been picked by causing the single shaft to trace out its circular and longitudinal movements thereby giving an accurate map of its time movements in locking and unlocking.

The shape of the ring cam L, is such that it shall move the carriage N, at certain points up and down in the revolution of the shaft D, as above described, while it shall hold the carriage fixed at all otherY points, which arrangement affords the means of using this lock as a right hand or left hand lock. The block g, on cam L, contains a piston which is conical on both ends; this piston can play loosely in its cylinder, being held therein by a pin c, which passes through a slot of said piston as represented in Fig. 3. At the point at which the faces f and f, of the disk Gr, impinge on block g, the lower conical point of the piston b is driven respectively into one of the holes d, by the upper conical end of the piston coming in Contact with the underside of the block I,'while at all other movements of the cam the upper conical end runs in the groove O', Figs. 8, and 3, in which position the disk G, is not coupled to the block g. This is so arranged that the cam L, and disk G, are coupled at the point at which slides and Q/ can be brought in Contact for the purpose of picking for as the bit F, is the only part by which the slides can be moved, and when the slides are in contact, said slides are beyond the reach of the bit F, it follows that to feel the slides the motion of the bit F, must be reversed, but asl the disk G, and the cam L, are locked together, the bit F cannot be turned back except the cam be also turned, which at once separates the two sets of slides a5, y.

D is a steel arm, the pin 7L of which enters the hole z', of the carriage N, and which resting within the groove a, Fig. 7, extends in the unlocked position into the aperture in which the bit F,turns, and thus serves to limit the movements of the bit F, while the peculiar shape of the slide 1/4, prevents any false locking of the lock. I would further state, that for additional security against boring into the lock to pick it, that hardened steel pins may be inserted in the steel and brass shafts, below the external face of the hub O.

Having,` thus fully described the nature of my invention what I claim therein as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. A key of such construction in combination with a lock without a key hole or other opening from the outside to the working,` parts inside, that the said key may be applied to the lock without the aid of an index, figures, letters, or other marks, that require alight to be seen, and which key shall govern with precision all the necessary movements of the shaft by which the slides and tumblers of the lock must be adjusted, substantially in the manner, and for the purpose described. y

2. I claim in the construction of locks without key holes, the employment of two movable shafts, one of which adjusts the slide tumblers, both being accessible from the outside and one within the other, substantially in the manner and for the purpose set forth.

3. I claim the method herein described of adjusting the slides by means of the two movable shafts, which when operated are guided in their movements by the key above described, substantially in the manner and for the purpose set forth.

t. I claim the restorer Q, in combination with cam R, shaft E, and bit F, by which all the movable parts in the lock are moved by the force of the hand only, and in the locked and unlocked position are held fast, substantially in the manner described.

5. I claim so constructing the ring` cam L, that it shall move the slide carriage N, at the proper moments, and that it shall hold said carriage fast at all other times substantially in the manner and for the purpose described.

6. I claim the steel arm D or its equivalent and the peculiarly shaped slide `1/4, substantially in the manner and for the purpose set forth.

7. I claim the piston b, for coupling` the slide carriage cam L, with the wheel Gr, of the shaft D, for the purpose described.

STUART PERRY. lVitnesses:

A. S. GAGE, E. L. BOWEN. 

